Omega Complex Novel (Completed) - Chapter 17

Paradoxically, I felt a sense of relief along with anxiety. The fact that I no longer had to hide it felt refreshing, more so than the fact that I had been caught. My fingertips trembled with anxiety, but despite that, I was okay.

“And Senior, your smoking cycle is too strange. Anyone can tell you’re smoking to erase pheromones.”

“…You’re smart.”

The pheromones I had suppressed flowed out. There was no need to hide them, nor any will to do so. Suppressing physiological pheromones was, in itself, extremely uncomfortable and difficult.

“You’re right.”

Slowly, I pulled out another cigarette. Though the pheromones were faint, I had to smoke to erase them. No matter how drunk Choi Taegyeom was, he would react sensitively.

“I am an Omega.”

Hiss, I lit it and inhaled the cigarette smoke. The smoke, deep in my lungs, neutralized the faint pheromones. Because I was recessive, my pheromones were easily erased by this artificial scent. In a way, it was almost embarrassing to call myself an Omega.

“And Choi Taegyeom doesn’t know.”

Kim Dohyun’s expression changed. The guy who had been so nonchalant until now was observing me, scrutinizing my face. I let out a self-deprecating sigh and flicked off the ash.

“So?”

I didn’t know what he expected from me. If he had no thoughts, he made a mistake, and if he wanted me to be scared, he was audacious. Shouldn’t he also bear some consequences if he unearths someone else’s carefully hidden secret?

“Why are you telling me this?”

Whoosh, I exhaled cigarette smoke. I wasn’t angry. I just felt empty, and a little wronged. I felt foolish for having tried so hard to hide such insignificant pheromones all this time.

Seeing me like that, Kim Dohyun replied in a calm voice.

“I didn’t say it expecting anything in particular.”

I should have listened to Choi Taegyeom. If only I hadn’t hung out with Kim Dohyun, if I hadn’t associated with him, this wouldn’t have happened. But it was too late for regrets.

“I was just curious. Why Senior is pretending to be a Beta.”

I didn’t resent him. Rather, his calm voice somewhat eased my anxious heart.

“Choi Taegyeom hates Omegas.”

Once again, I took a drag from the cigarette. Through my blurred vision, I could tell that Kim Dohyun was looking at me.

“And I like Choi Taegyeom.”

Kim Dohyun’s expression was unreadable. He wasn’t sorry like before, nor was he observing me. He simply stared at me, as if waiting to hear what I would say. Seeing that, a laugh escaped me, inappropriate for the situation.

“Was it very obvious?”

“Yes.”

The answer was concise. Yes, it must have been very obvious, so why didn’t Choi Taegyeom know? That, too, was absurd.

“Why don’t you confess?”

“Because I don’t have the courage to confess.”

This time, I couldn’t look at Kim Dohyun. My fingertips were still trembling, making it impossible to meet his gaze. He seemed to have noticed that the hand putting out the cigarette was shaking faintly.

“Aren’t you going to tell me not to tell?”

“If I tell you not to tell, will you not?”

I knew it in my head. To ask him to keep it a secret, at least not to tell Choi Taegyeom. That I should say that and plead earnestly.

“Just do as you please.”

But I didn’t want to. Not just because of pride, but because the emotions I had hidden deep inside kept pushing their way out. The desire not to be caught, and the contradictory desire to just be caught, grew together.

“I’d rather be caught.”

Sometimes my mouth itched, and sometimes I writhed in frustration. Pretending to be a Beta wouldn’t make me one, and I sometimes wished I could just get it over with and see the end of this relationship.

So, what if I were caught unwillingly? Wouldn’t my mind at least be at ease then? It was an emotion I couldn’t even comprehend myself, but it was true.

“Senior Choi Taegyeom…”

Kim Dohyun brought up Choi Taegyeom’s name but couldn’t continue. His slightly furrowed brows seemed to indicate something he disliked.

“Why does he hate Omegas?”

“Do you like Taegyeom?”

“…What did you say?”

It was a question I asked without much thought, but it elicited an unexpectedly strong reaction. Kim Dohyun stared at me with a very bewildered expression. His wide eyes seemed to reproach me.

“How could you possibly think that?”

“No, well…”

I awkwardly trailed off, averting my gaze. I had just casually probed him because he seemed interested before, but it seemed I had completely misjudged. Kim Dohyun snorted and replied coldly.

“I hate that Senior.”

“…Are you really saying that in front of me?”

How insolent. To brazenly say he hated him, even knowing I liked Choi Taegyeom. Of course, given Choi Taegyeom’s attitude, it would be stranger if Kim Dohyun did like him.

“Isn’t it more appropriate to ask if I like you, Senior?”

Kim Dohyun asked with a slightly awkward feeling. It was as if he wanted me to ask that. And there was only one answer I could give.

“I don’t really want to ask that.”

“…Why?”

“It’d be awkward if you said no, and it’d be strange if you said yes.”

If it’s an emotion I can’t take responsibility for, it’s better not to know. I wasn’t brave enough to create an irreversible situation out of mere curiosity. If I had that much courage, I would have confessed to Choi Taegyeom long ago.

“Anything else to say?”

I flicked the cigarette butt into the ashtray. Checking my phone, I realized quite a bit of time had passed. I didn’t know what time I came out to smoke, but I figured Choi Taegyeom must have been waiting for me for quite a while.

“If not, I’m going to take Taegyeom home.”

I said that and turned my back, but I heard a grumbling voice from behind.

“Senior Choi Taegyeom isn’t that drunk.”

Is he blind? How does he not see that he’s very drunk? I turned back to Kim Dohyun, dumbfounded, and Kim Dohyun looked up at me.

“I won’t tell anyone that Senior is an Omega.”

“…Really?”

I just had that thought. Kim Dohyun probably didn’t bring this up to threaten me. Perhaps he was genuinely curious, or found it amusing. Whatever the reason, if his intention was to spread rumors, he wouldn’t have approached me privately like this.

So, while a part of me felt regret, another part felt relieved. Despite boldly saying he could tell if he wanted to, I felt reassured hearing him say he wouldn’t. How fickle could I be? I didn’t even understand myself.

“I wasn’t trying to threaten you either. It’s just…”

Kim Dohyun pressed his fingertips together as if making an excuse. It was the first time I’d seen him hesitate, him who had been so nonchalant all along. After a brief sigh, he raised his head with a determined expression.

“Senior.”

I had an uneasy premonition. A feeling that I might regret hearing what he was about to say next. Of course, it was already too late to cut him off.

“Isn’t it better to be with me than someone who doesn’t even know you’re an Omega?”

“…”

I raised my hand and pulled my cap down firmly. I wished I was just a little less perceptive. The moment I heard those words, I instantly understood what he was trying to say.

“I’m interested in Senior.”

Kim Dohyun ran a hand over his face, the one not holding the cigarette. Although he spoke calmly, his fingertips trembled faintly. My throat felt constricted, as if I had swallowed a stone.

“Honestly, I don’t know if it’s romantic interest… I’m just saying, wouldn’t it be okay to casually date?”

This is why I didn’t want to ask. Because there was only one answer I could give to an emotion I couldn’t take responsibility for. Knowing it was impolite, only the thought of escaping this situation came to mind. No matter how much I racked my brain, no wise answer came to me.

“Sorry.”

Choi Taegyeom, you were right. Kim Dohyun is interested in me. If only I could laugh it off like that. This first confession I’d ever received was incredibly awkward and more perplexing than I had imagined.

“I can’t do casual dating.”